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The soft light of dawn crept into Athena’s room as her alarm buzzed beside her bed. She groaned and sat up slowly, her curly black hair spilling over her shoulders. Rubbing her eyes, she yawned and stretched, trying to shake off the remnants of an uneasy night’s sleep. Her dreams had been strange—flashes of the rock, shifting landscapes, and a deep, unfamiliar feeling of power coursing through her. Athena wasn’t sure if it was real or just her imagination running wild.
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Sliding out of bed, she grabbed a green pullover sweater from her chair, pulling it over her head. The fabric was soft and warm, making her feel a little more grounded as the unease from the night clung to her. She left her hair down, her dark curls bouncing slightly as she moved around her room, slipping into her favorite pair of blue jeans and Converse sneakers. She gave herself a quick look in the mirror, noting her brown eyes still looked tired from her restless sleep, before heading downstairs.
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Her younger brother, Max, was already at the table, half-asleep with his head resting on his folded arms. Athena smirked as she sat down across from him, pouring herself a bowl of cereal. Their mom, busy packing a lunch, glanced over her shoulder with a tired smile.
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“You’re up early for once,” her mom teased, her scrubs wrinkled from a long night shift at the small hospital where she worked. “Guess miracles do happen.”
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Athena rolled her eyes playfully. “Only because I didn’t want you dragging me out of bed this time. You’re still tired from your shift, huh?”
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Her mom sighed, dropping the sandwich she was making into Max’s lunch bag. “Always tired, but someone’s got to keep things running around here. The hospital’s been a madhouse since… well, you know.” Her voice trailed off as she turned back to the counter, cutting off any further mention of the meteor that had disrupted their town.
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Max finally lifted his head, blinking sleepily. “Do I have to go to school today?” he mumbled.
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“Yes,” both Athena and their mom said in unison. Max groaned in protest.
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“You’ll survive,” Athena said, ruffling his hair as she grabbed his backpack. “Come on, I’ll walk you.”
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Max grumbled something incoherent but followed her out the door. The streets of Little Rock were unusually quiet as they made their way to the school. There was a tension in the air that Athena couldn’t quite shake. Normally, she would be chatting with Max or humming a song under her breath, but today felt different—heavier.
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Once they reached the school, Athena waved as Max ran off to meet up with his friends. She stood by the front steps for a moment, scanning the familiar hallways, but her thoughts were elsewhere—still lingering on the strange energy she had been feeling ever since the meteor hit. Just as she was about to head inside, she spotted Jenna waiting by the lockers, smiling as soon as she saw Athena.
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“Hey, finally!” Jenna grinned, her bright eyes lighting up as she pulled Athena into a quick hug. “I was wondering where you were.”
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“Sorry,” Athena replied, adjusting the strap of her backpack. “I had to drop Max off.”
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Jenna laughed. “Little brother duty, huh? You’re a good sister.”
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The two friends walked together through the crowded hallway, making their way to their first-period class. The usual hum of conversation buzzed around them, but Athena couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling in her gut. Something was off, and she knew Jenna could sense it too.
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“You okay?” Jenna asked quietly as they reached their seats in the classroom. “You seem… distracted.”
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Athena hesitated for a moment before responding. “It’s just… I don’t know. Things feel different lately, like ever since that rock hit.”
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Jenna nodded in agreement. “Yeah, everyone’s been talking about it. It’s like the whole town changed overnight. And now all these weird stories…” She trailed off as the teacher entered the room.
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Just as the lesson began, there was a knock on the door. Everyone turned to see a group of military officers entering the classroom, their faces stern. The teacher looked surprised but nodded for them to come in.
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One of the officers stepped forward, addressing the students. “Good morning. I’m Sergeant Hayes, and we’ve been sent here to give you some important information. Effective immediately, there will be restrictions on communications concerning the recent meteor event. We strongly advise that no one post about it on social media, share pictures, or talk about it publicly. Anyone caught violating these rules will face serious consequences.”
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The room fell silent. Athena exchanged a glance with Jenna, her mind racing. What were they trying to hide?
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“Why can’t we talk about it?” one student in the back asked, his voice shaky.
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Sergeant Hayes narrowed his eyes. “For the safety of everyone in this town, it’s essential that we maintain order and limit the spread of misinformation. This is a direct order from the highest levels of government. No one is to speculate or spread rumors about the meteor. Is that understood?”
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The room nodded in stunned silence as the officers left. Athena clenched her fists under her desk. This felt wrong. There was more going on here than they were being told, and the military’s presence only made her more suspicious.
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By lunchtime, the tension had only grown. Athena felt trapped, like the walls of the school were closing in. After grabbing her tray of food, she headed outside to get some fresh air. She found a quiet spot by the side of the building, trying to calm her racing thoughts.
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That’s when she heard voices—familiar ones. She leaned around the corner and saw the sheriff talking in hushed tones to one of the military officers.
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“We’ve got orders,” the sheriff was saying. “No one comes in, no one goes out of this town. We keep everything locked down, no exceptions.”
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The officer nodded, his face grim. “This is coming straight from the President. We can’t let this get out of hand. We’re doing everything we can to contain the situation.”
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Athena’s heart pounded in her chest as she took a step back, her mind swirling with questions. Contain? What are they hiding?
As Athena slipped back into the school, her heart raced. She navigated the hallways, her mind replaying the conversation she had just overheard. She found Jenna sitting at their usual table, poking at her uneaten food, deep in thought.
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“Hey,” Athena said, sliding into the seat across from her. “You won’t believe what I just heard.”
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Jenna looked up, her expression curious. “What happened?”
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Athena leaned in closer, lowering her voice. “I was outside, and I overheard the sheriff talking to one of the military officers. They said they’re locking down the town—no one can come in or out.”
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Jenna’s eyes widened. “Are you serious? Why would they do that?”
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“I don’t know, but it’s coming straight from the President,” Athena continued, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. “They’re trying to contain something, and it feels really shady.”
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Jenna frowned, her brow furrowing in thought. “Maybe they think people are getting too curious about the rock or something. I mean, everyone’s been talking about it.”
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“Yeah, but it feels more serious than that,” Athena said, her voice barely above a whisper. “They told the students earlier not to talk about it or post anything online. What are they trying to hide?”
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Jenna leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. “This is getting weird, Athena. What if something really dangerous happened because of that meteor? What if it’s not just a rock?”
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Athena shivered at the thought, her mind racing with possibilities. “I’ve been feeling different ever since it fell. It’s like… something shifted. Like the air around us is charged with energy.”
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“You too?” Jenna replied, her eyes lighting up with realization. “I thought I was just imagining things. I keep having these strange dreams about the rock and feeling like I’m connected to it somehow.”
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Athena nodded, a sense of relief washing over her. “I thought I was going crazy. But if we’re both feeling this way, maybe it’s not just us.”
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Just then, the lunch bell rang, breaking their intense conversation. Athena sighed, glancing around at the other students who were chatting and laughing, oblivious to the undercurrents of tension in the air.
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“We need to keep an eye on this,” Jenna said, determination in her voice. “We can’t let them just sweep it under the rug.”
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“Agreed,” Athena replied, her resolve strengthening. “But we have to be careful. They’re already watching us.”
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They finished their lunch quickly, the unease settling like a weight on their shoulders. As they gathered their things, Athena couldn’t shake the feeling that they were on the brink of something monumental. Whatever was happening in Little Rock was far from over, and she had a sinking feeling that she was about to be pulled into the center of it.
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As the final bell rang, Athena gathered her things quickly, the day’s tension still lingering in her mind. She met up with Jenna outside the school, relief washing over her as she stepped into the cool afternoon air.
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“Ready to pick up Max?” Jenna asked, falling into step beside her.
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“Yeah, let’s go,” Athena replied, her thoughts still racing. They walked together, the weight of the day pressing down on them, but there was a sense of camaraderie that lightened the mood.
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“So, what are we doing for the sleepover?” Jenna asked, excitement creeping into her voice. “Anime marathon? Or maybe we can sneak in some snacks?”
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“Definitely snacks,” Athena laughed. “And anime. My mom is working one of her doubles, so we’ll have the place to ourselves.”
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“Perfect! I can’t wait to binge-watch that new series,” Jenna said, grinning.
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When they reached the school, Max was waiting for them, bouncing on his toes as he spotted Athena.
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“Hey, Max!” Athena called out. “Ready to head home?”
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“Yeah! Did you get any cool homework?” he asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
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“Just the usual boring stuff,” Athena replied, ruffling his hair as they started walking. “But Jenna and I have plans for a sleepover.”
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“Awesome! Can I join?” Max piped up, his enthusiasm infectious.
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“Of course! The more, the merrier,” Jenna said, giving him a thumbs-up.
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Later that evening, after dinner and a chaotic flurry of snacks being prepared, Athena, Jenna, and Max settled down in the living room. The glow of the TV cast flickering shadows on the walls as they dove into an anime series, laughter filling the room and momentarily pushing away the ominous tension that had hung over them all day.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNlJeEJiXu
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Just as they were getting engrossed in a particularly intense episode, a sudden knock at the door sliced through the atmosphere like a blade. Athena exchanged a worried glance with Jenna.
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“Who could that be?” Jenna whispered, her voice tight with apprehension.
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Athena shrugged, trying to shake off the feeling of dread. “I’ll check it out.” She got up, crossing the living room, her heart pounding as she opened the door. Standing there was a military officer, his uniform crisp and imposing, casting a long shadow across the threshold.
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“Good evening,” he said, scanning the interior of the house with cold, calculating eyes. “Are your parents home?”
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“Parent,” Athena corrected him, her throat dry. “My mom’s at work.”
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He stepped slightly closer, his expression unreadable as he glanced down at a clipboard in his hand. “According to our records, there are only supposed to be two children living here.”
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“This is just my friend,” Athena explained, her heart racing as a chill settled in the pit of her stomach.
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“I see,” the officer said, his voice growing more serious. “I have a few questions for you both. Have you seen the meteor? Have you touched it? And have you exhibited any… unusual behavior since then?”
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Athena felt a wave of panic wash over her, her instincts screaming that something was very wrong. She and Jenna exchanged terrified glances, but there was no backing out now.
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“We haven’t seen it,” Jenna said quickly, trying to keep her voice steady. “We heard about it, but that’s it.”
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The officer narrowed his eyes, leaning in slightly, the air thickening with tension. “I encourage you not to lie. This is a very serious matter. Nothing to be frightened by, but it’s important that we know so that we can help.”
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Athena sensed a predatory intensity in his gaze, a coldness that made her skin crawl. She felt the walls of the house closing in, suffocating her as dread coiled tighter around her heart. Desperate to know more, she decided to try using her powers.
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Focusing her energy, she reached out, attempting to connect with his mind. To her shock, it worked. She could hear his thoughts, sharp and insistent, like a knife slicing through the darkness.
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“I don’t know why I have to do these door-to-door visits when people will just lie. I can’t wait until the machine comes that’ll tell us if people have powers or not.”
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The implications of his thoughts sent a jolt of fear through her. A machine? What did that mean? Athena’s breath caught in her throat as she realized the officer was no ordinary visitor—he was part of something far more sinister.
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His mind flickered with images of cold, sterile rooms and blinking lights, of people strapped into devices that could expose their innermost secrets. “I just want to get this over with,” he thought, frustration bubbling beneath his calm exterior. “It’s only a matter of time before we know who’s a threat.”
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Athena felt her heart race, the urgency of his thoughts amplifying her own terror. She locked eyes with Jenna, who looked equally shaken, and they both instinctively took a step back.
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“We haven’t done anything unusual,” Athena finally said, her voice trembling but resolute. “We’re just kids trying to live our lives.”
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The officer studied her for a moment, his gaze boring into her as if he were trying to peel back the layers of her soul. She could feel the weight of his scrutiny, an unsettling sensation that made her skin itch.
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“Right,” he said slowly, his tone cautious, but there was a thread of menace woven into his words. “But if you experience anything strange, you need to report it immediately.”
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“Sure,” Jenna replied, her voice wavering. “We will.”
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The officer stepped back, giving them one last penetrating look before he turned to leave. “Remember, we’re here to help. Just be honest.” With that, he walked away, leaving Athena and Jenna standing in the doorway, their hearts pounding and fear coursing through their veins.
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“That was… intense,” Jenna said, her voice barely above a whisper.
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“Yeah,” Athena replied, her mind racing. “What does he mean by ‘the machine’?”
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Max peered around Athena, wide-eyed. “Are we in trouble?”
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“No, we’re not in trouble,” Athena assured him, though she could feel the uncertainty creeping into her own voice. “But we need to be careful.”
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As they closed the door, Athena felt the weight of the world on her shoulders. Whatever was happening in Little Rock was escalating, and she could sense they were at the center of it. The night ahead promised to be anything but ordinary.
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